Jamie Allbach/Courtesy photo

THE FAMILY YMCA NEWS

The Family YMCA has hired Jamie Allbach as Child Development Director according to CEO Chris Daniels.

“Jamie has a strong teaching and curriculum background,” said Daniels, “and she is a welcome addition to complement and lead our staff as we restructure childcare and further develop our after school and summer camp programs to meet the evolving needs of the community.”

Allbach was an elementary school teacher in Asheville, NC from 2006 to 2013, then served for the next three years as the Media Coordinator and Racial and Equity Team Leader where she led innovative educational opportunities for students, trained educators in equitable practices for students and coordinated trainings for multiple schools and foundations.

In New Mexico, she co-founded Strong In Nature that focuses on sexual violence prevention and healing initiatives to foster health for survivors. She has also worked for Tewa Women United where she developed and implemented culturally relevant healthy relationships curriculum. 

Allbach has a Bachelor’s of Arts degree in Spanish and K-6 Education, and a Masters of Library Science and Technology. She has written and received several grants, and in 2011/12 she received a District Ruth Henderson Award for Altruism, and was named Teacher of the Year for the Emma Elementary School. That year she also served on the Superintendent’s Advisory Council.

“This position at the Y,” Allbach said, “marries my nonprofit experience with my background in elementary education, and my thinking about whole child’s safety and healthy development.”

When asked what she thinks is important for her to look at in her work at the Y, Allbach said, “My first step is to ensure that the staff feel as supported as the children do.”

Allbach lives in Los Alamos with her two daughters, Zora, 8, and Izzy, who will be 4 in July.